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Wimbley adding polish, punch
Steve King, Staff Writer
08.03.2008

As a rookie in 2006, Browns outside linebacker Kamerion Wimbley delivered some punishing blows to opposing teams.

Then last season, the NFL counter-punched.

Now it's 2008, and Winbley is set to counter-punch those counter-punches.

Wimbley, taken in the first round -- as the No. 13 overall pick -- in the 2006 NFL Draft by the Browns, burst open the scene. Teams couldn't seem to block him that first year. He made play after play, setting a club record for sacks by a rookie with 11. The total was second among all rookies that year, in fact.

Former Browns head coach Sam Rutigliano, who drafted both Chip Banks and Clay Matthews, praised Wimbley by saying he was a combination of those two former standout linebackers.

"He has the athleticism of Banks and the smarts and demeanor of Matthews," Rutigliano said.

That's something.

Thus, the sky seemed the limit for Wimbley in 2007. After such an impressive rookie performance, what would he up his sack total to, 15, 16, maybe even 17?

It didn't work out that way. Instead, his total went down, to five, as opponents made adjustments to him, focusing all of their attention on stopping him. He was double-teamed often, rarely got a rest on passing downs and narrowly missed a handful of sacks when the quarterback stepped up in the pocket. The word was definititely out.

"I talked to guys who came to our team from other teams, and other guys around the league, and they told me their defensive coordinator would say all week leading up to a game with the Browns last year, 'Make sure you stop Wimbley. Don't let him beat you,' '' Wimbley said. "They definitely accounted for me on every play."

Wimbley readily points out that he played better overall last year, in terms of stopping run and such, than he did in 2006. But when you're a pass-rushing outside linebacker, your moniker is your sacks, and with less than half as many of them last year, it's perceived that he had a sub-par performance.

Wimbley spent the offseason studying film from last year to see what, exactly, teams did to him. As such, he's developed some counter moves, some strategy to combat that of the teams he'll be facing this season.

"I can't be specific -- I don't want to tip off our opponents -- but I've got some stuff planned," he said.

One thing that will help him -- a lot -- is the addition in the offseason of defensive linemen Corey Williams and Shaun Rogers. In the 3-4 defense the Browns play, the linemen are supposed to take up blockers, allowing the linebackers to stay clean and make plays. Williams and Rogers should do that.

"Without a doubt, the depth on our line is improved this year," he said. "I've got more people with me this year. Those are two great additions. Their presence will take some of the pressure off me. I'll have more opportunities to go one-on-one, and hopefully, I can take advantage of that."

What will impact Wimbley, too, is the play of the outside linebacker on the other side. The fact Antwan Peek was hurt for most of last season did not help, for he's athletic and a good pass rusher who would also take some of the attention away from Wimbley.

Peek was set to bounce back this year, but he's been slowed again by a knee problem that is expected to keep him out the rest of training camp and the preseason. The Browns are hoping he'll be ready for the regular-season opener against the Dallas Cowboys, but that remains to be seen. In the meantime the Browns will count on Willie McGinest, Shantee Orr and maybe rookie Alex Hall to get to the passer off the left edge.

"Our whole defense needs to be better than it was last year," Wimbley said. "My numbers fell off as the defense's numbers fells off. You can say this happened or that happened, but I don't like to point fingers. The bottom line is that I'm responsible for myself. If I want more sacks, I have to play better.

Everything on the defense, in fact, should work in concert. More sacks would help the team's young cornerbacks. If quarterbacks are getting pressure, then they will have to hurry their throws, which would limit the time the corners have to cover.

That's exactly the strategy that new defensive coordinator Mel Tucker wants to employ. That strategy has to have a productive Wimbley in order to have a chance to succeed.

"I'm a competitor, so sure, I want more sacks this year," Wimbley said. "But my main priority is to win games."

And it doesn't matter if those victories come via a decision or a knockout.

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Wimbley readily points out that he played better overall last year, in terms of stopping run and such, than he did in 2006. But when you're a pass-rushing outside linebacker, your moniker is your sacks, and with less than half as many of them last year, it's perceived that he had a sub-par performance.

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Eh, Adalius Thomas only had 6.5 sacks lastyear. If he learns to play the run and pass like him, he's cool by me with those 6 sacks. Go tell some Pats fan that Adalius didn't play that well because he only had 6.5 sacks. They'll just laugh.

As long as Wimbley continues improving his run D and coverage ability, I'm happy. Last year was a little dissapointing that he didn't get all the sacks, but he did put pressure on the QB. Becoming better at that would be great, but I also hope he continues focusing on containing the RB and coverage.

OLB isn't all about sacks like this writer says.

People can say what they want about Wmbley, but the fact remains that he is our BEST pass rusher.

If he is a "one move guy" as some say than that will come out as the Defense around him gets better.

He finally has some talent around him. I fully expect him to take advantage of that.

Wimbley works with coaches to raise sack totals
Saturday, August 2, 2008
By Steve Doerschuk

CLEVELAND The stadium crowd squeezes into the lower bowl on a hot Friday night.

You watch Kamerion Wimbley tee off against James Lee. Wow.

Wimbley smokes the undrafted rookie left tackle with a dip move they never told him about at South Carolina State.

You watch Wimbley tee off against Joe Thomas. In golf terms, he swings, and the ball stays on the tee against the Pro Bowl left tackle.

You watch and wonder. It's practice. Does either scene mean anything at all?

This question is easier to answer: What must Wimbley mean to the Cleveland Browns in 2008? The answer is just as simple: Way more than two sacks at Oakland, and one sack in games against the Dolphins, Ravens and Jets.

That's right, he registered a sack in only four games and got shut out in 12.

He took down the suspects, Josh McCown, Cleo Lemon, Kyle Boller and Kellen Clemens, but he couldn't reach the stars, Ben Roethlisberger, Tom Brady and Carson Palmer.

There were reasons Wimbley's sack total took a free-fall from 2006, when he notched 11 as a rookie first-round pick. As training camp unfolds, Wimbley confesses amazement at the resources opponents devoted to taking him out of games.

But there remains a sense Wimbley could have done more, even in the face of double teams and chips.

There is a sense that he is a serious, talented student, and he will do more, and not just because Shaun Rogers and Corey Williams figure to change the inside rush from invisible to in-your-face.

Wimbley will be less predictable this year. Blockers won't be able to just force him outside a bit too deep for his uncanny dip move to get him free.

COACHES ARE HELPING

"I've been working on some things," Wimbley says. "Bob Trott and Randy (Melvin) have definitely been instrumental in helping me improve my game."

Melvin is in his fifth year as Romeo Crennel's defensive line coach, including the 2001 season in New England. Trott, who first worked with Crennel on the early 1990s Giants, is in his fourth year as a Browns assistant.

Those gentlemen coach some serious talent: Rogers, a two-time Pro Bowler; Williams, Green Bay's franchise player prior to a March trade; Willie McGinest, the all-time post-season sacks leader.

But none of their tasks is more important than getting Wimbley going.

"We have been watching a lot of film," Wimbley said. "We've been trying new things."

Browns fans got their first stadium glimpse of Wimbley Friday on "Family Night."

In that he wasn't going at game speed against Thomas, it was hard to pass any judgment.

"It definitely helps to go against Joe," Wimbley said. "Better bring your A game."

Wimbley needs to be much more than a pass rusher as he phases into his third pro season. During drills and 11-on-11s Friday, he balanced time playing the run, dropping into coverage and rushing.

He seemed quick and flexible in pass coverage against rookie tight end Martin Rucker. He seemed to give 330-pound rookie offensive tackle Derrick Morse all he could handle when they were locked in upper body combat on a stretch run.

Coach Romeo Crennel will wait until the serious hitting starts before passing judgment.

"I know that Kam has worked extremely hard on his pass rush and maybe add a move or two to his repertoire," Crennel said. "We'll see how he plays out once we start playing games."

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He needs an inside move, instead of always working to the outside and getting pushed past the play. Hopefully, he's worked that out.

Wimbley's one move this year will work more than ever though.... Our Front 3 will help collapse the pocket, and Wimbley will come from behind. Last year he came from behind and the QB just stepped up... Not going to happen this year!!